pulmonary blood flow, gas exchange and transport Flashcards
describe the blood supply to the lungs
pulmonary artery
pulmonary vein
what is the role of the pulmonary artery
travels away from the heart carries blood to the lungs L and R arise from R ventricle carries entire cardiac output from RV supplies the dense capillary network surrounding the alveoli
pulmonary vein
travels into the heart
returns oxy blood to the LA
how is pulmonary circulation different to systemic circulation
opposite in function - delivers carbon dioxide to the lungs and picks up oxygen
high flow, low pressure system (systolic ~25mmHg)
bronchial circulation
supplied by the bronchial arteries arising from the systemic circulation
supply oxygenated blood to the airway smooth muscle, nerves and lung tissue (lung parenchyma)
remove waste
comes from the L side of the heart
describe the factors that influence diffusion of gases across the alveoli
obey the rules for siple diffusion
rate of diffusion across the membrane is:
directly proportional to pp grad
directly proportional to gas solubility
directly proportional to available SA
inversely proportional to thickness of the membrane
most rapid over short distances
pressure gradients for oxygen and carbon dioxide between alveoli and pulmonary arterial blood
OXYGEN: 100mmHg in alveoli –> 40mmHg in arterial blood
CARBON DIOXIDE: 46mmHg in arterial blood –> 40mmHg in alveoli
what is arterial blood pp equivalent to
alveoli
what is venous blood pp equivalent to
tissue
partial pressure of oxygen and carbon dioxide in tissues
oxygen: <40
carbon dioxide: >46
what is rate affected by
solubility of the molecule
oxygen isn’t very soluble in water but carbon dioxide is
how are the alveoli adapted for efficient diffusion
large SA
short diffusion distance
membranes are thin
elastic fibres and type II cells never sit between the capillary and the type I cell
impact of emphysema on gas exchange in the lung
destruction of the alveoli
reduced SA for gas exchange
low pO2 in the blood
normal alveolar PO2
impact of fibrosis on gas exchange
thickened alveolar membrane slows gas exchange
loss of lung compliance may decrease alveolar ventilation
normal or low alveolar PO2
low blood PO2
impact of pulmonary oedema on gas exchange
fluid in the interstitial space increases diffusion distance
arterial PCO2 may be normal due to higher solubility of CO2 in water
normal alveolar PO2
low PO2 in blood
impact of asthma on gas exchange
constricted bronchioles
increased airway resistance
decreased airway ventilation
low alveolar and blood PO2
explain the relationship between ventilation and perfusion and its significance in health
ventilation and perfusion ideally compliment each other
optimally, ventilation = blood flow
both blood flow and ventilation decrease with height across the lung
describe the V/Q relationship at the base of the lungs
V
describe the V/Q relationship at the apex of the lungs
low blood flow
arterial pressure < alveolar pressure
arteries are compressed
what % of the height of the healthy lung performs well in matching blood and air
75
the majority of the mismatch occurs in the apex
this is then auto-regulated to keep the ratio close to 1
what happens when ventilation decresaes in a group of alveoli
PCO2 increases
PO2 decreases
blood flowing past these alveoli isnt oxygenated
dilution of blood from better ventilated areas
describe the local control mechanisms that keep ventilation and perfusion matched
decreased PO2 around under ventilated alveoli constricts their arterioles, diverting blood to better ventilated alveoli
increased PCO2 causes mild bronchodilation
constriction in response to hypoxia is particular to pulmonary vessels
what occurs when ventilation > blood flow
alveolar dead space
air in the alveoli isn’t participating in gas exchange due to insufficient blood flow
what occurs with alveolar dead space
opposite to shunt
increased alveolar PO2 - pulmonary vasodilation
decreased alveolar PCO2 - mild bronchial constriction
this increases perfusion and decreases ventilation, bringing the ratio back towards 1
define shunt
the passage of blood through areas of the lung that are poorly ventilated
opposite of alveolar dead space
define anatomical dead space
air in the conducting zone of the resp tract unable to participate in gas exchange as walls of airway in this region are too thick
physiologic dead space
alveolar DS + anatomical dead space
dalton’s law
total pressure of a gas mixture is the sum of the pressures of the individual gases